Good Business: Gavin of Green & Blue (2 min Read)

Can you tell us a brief history of Green and Blue and how your own experiences led you to start the company?

My wife Kate and I both worked as designers for global companies for many years but always held a passion for wildlife. In 2005 we set up Green&Blue to develop, design and manufacture innovative wildlife products right here in the UK, and moved to Cornwall to live the dream!

Can you tell us the most moving experience that you've had through Green and Blue?

Setting up in business there are lots of moving experiences but perhaps the one that I hold most dear is watching our first year of solitary bees emerging from our Bee Brick™ in the bright spring sunshine, and each season the same excitement is there.

What was the last thing you bought?

Excitingly it was a woodfired Rayburn for our new workshop. It’s being installed this week so that I can keep the team plied with fresh coffee and warmth!

What is your favourite Green and Blue product?

I am immensely proud of all of the products that we’ve created over the years at Green&Blue, As I type, I’m sitting watching blue tits and goldfinches feeding from our seed feeders outside the studio window. But the product I’m perhaps most proud of is our Bee Brick™. It holds tremendous potential to create a real step change in how we care for our solitary bee population. In the words of our good friend Chris Hines MBE, founder of Surfers Against Sewage and former sustainability director at the Eden Project, “Every home built without a Bee Brick™ is a missed opportunity.”

What do you think makes a good company?

For me, it’s a sense of purpose. We’re working towards something vital in protecting our wildlife and nature which makes us a passionate team.

What's your favourite thing to do away from Green and Blue?

The beauty of being based in Cornwall is you’re only ever moments away from the wonderful coastline that we have here. Spending time with my family at one of our more secluded beaches is always my favourite thing to do.

Where is your favourite place to visit?

It’s simple pleasures for me and for that you just can’t beat The Isles of Scilly, especially in late September. 

Can you describe your workplace?

Based in a small village on the North Cornish coast our workshops are surrounded by lush green farmers fields and a 3-mile stretch of golden sand, just five minutes walk down the road. We’re immersed in nature, which is pretty important for us.

What is your life motto?

Love, health and something to look forward to!

What's next for Green and Blue?

There are loads of exciting things in the pipeline for us. There’s a new planning policy document being adopted in Cornwall that stipulates 50% of new builds need to include a Bee Brick™ which is a massive change and which we’ll be working to replicate with other council’s across the country. We’re also in the process of setting up a campaign to raise awareness of solitary bees as part of our foundation work, we’ll be shouting about that lots so keep an eye!

Check out more of Green and Blue at - www.greenandblue.co.uk